Improvement in brick and tile machines



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. H. KELLS.

BRICK AND TILE MACHINE.

Q1 5 N F? "Hi a Patented May 23,1876.

INVENTOR z Sheets-Sheet.

P. H. KELLS. BRICK AND TILE MACHINE.

Patented May 23,1876.

FIG. 3.

By flffornay x N. PEFERS, PHOTO LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATE-s PHILIP H. KELLS, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT it: BRICK AND TILE MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 173,851, dated May 23, 1876; application filed March 9, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP H. KELLs, of Adrian, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Brick and Tile Ma chines, of which the following is a specification:

My machine is constructed with a horizontal grinding-shaft, grooved longitudinally for the reception of spiral blades fixed adjustably thereon. The casing is constructed in parts, divided horizontally, the lower part being attached permanently to the frame,and the upper separable, to permit the removal of the shaft. The boxes and upper portion of the frame are also removable for the same purpose, so that the shaft may be rolled out of'its bed horizontally without the labor of elevating the heavy master-wheel attached thereto. The end thrust of the shaft is sustained by a collar working in a chamber made in part in the base and in part in the top of the middle plate. The interior of the casing is ribbed longitudinally, to prevent the clay partaking of the rotary movement of the shaft. The clay isdelivered in continuous lengths, through movaable dies, which are changed to correspond with the section of the bricks desired, and is received on a roller-frame capable of a reciprocating longitudinal motion, adjustable in height to correspond with the dies. The columns of clay are held by a clamp, while the bricks are separated by wires carried by a transversely-moving frame. The deliverydies are elastic, and are capable of being pressed inward in the center by set-screws, so as to form bricks with prominent corners and con cave center parts.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the machine,'partly in section. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 2 2, Fig.1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4 4, Fig.2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the transversely-moving cutting-frame.

A A represent various parts of the stationary base, and B the bed or lower portion of the casing, which is permanently fixed thereto. 0 is a removable cap, forming the upper portion of the casing, being fixed to the lower part by bolts 0. On the interior of the casing are any necessary number of longitudinal ribs, D. The casing tapers, as represented, from front to back, and is provided on top, at its receiving end, with a hopper, E, through which the clay is introduced.

F is the main shaft, carrying spiral blades G, which are attached to heads or collars H, secured adj ustably on the shaft by set-screws h. A longitudinal groove, f, in the shaft F receives lugs h, projecting inward from the heads or collars H, so as to cause the collars and blades to rotate with the shaft. The end thrust of the shaft is sustained by a fixed collar,1, thereon, occupying a recess prepared for it in the middle plate B. The shaft is driven, by any suitable motor, by means of a, pulley, P, or other connection, on a shaft, J, carrying a pinion, j. which gears with the master-wheel Kon the main shaft F. The shaft has itsbearings in transverse beams A A of the main frame, and is confined by a capp late, a The longitudinal girts A -A of the frame are removable, to admit of the master-wheel and shaft being unshipped horizontally without lifting them bodily over the frame when the casing-cap and the bearing-caps of the shaft are taken off. To this end the said girts are made hollow, and secured in the frame by screw-bolts a a The delivery end of the casing is constructed with a throat plate or cap, L, screwed or bolted to the rear plate B, which is connected to the middle plate B by bolts 1 l. The upper bolts llare removed when the casin g is to be opened.

M is a delivery-nozzle or nose'plate, within which are dies N, arranged side by side, formed v and adapted to cause the delivery of the clay in two columns correspoiiding in section to the bricks to be produced. The dies N are changeable, so as to produce bricks of any size, and are held in position by set-screws O, which, bearing on the center part of the die, press it inward, was to produce concavities at the centers of the bricks, and leave the corners permanent.

Q Q are brackets secured to the rear end of the frame by set-screws or clamps R, occupying slots q in the said brackets, so that thew latter are adjustable in height. The brackets Q support a'horizontal frame, S, in which'are flanged rollers s for the support of the roller- ATTENT FFIGE frame T, which is free to move longitudinally, so that it may partake of the movement of the clay, while the latter is clamped upon it for the cutting of the bricks, as hereinafter described. The rollers t, in this reciprocating frame are, at their upper parts, on alevel with the bottoms of the apertures in the dies N. The vertical adjustability of the'frame S, by means of the slotted brackets Q, admits of setting it up or down to cause the rollers to correspond in position with the particular die'sin use.

U represents a transversely reciprocating frame, constructed with three (more or less)' sets of horizontal bars, between which are stretched vertical wires W. The upper end of each wire is wound on a key, V, to providev for the tightening of the wire, the key being securely held by a clamp-nut, V, fitted 011 the screw-shaft of the key. a

X is a clamp, which is held up by a spring, :12, and is employed, when pressed down on the two columns of clay, to hold them against lateral motion while being cut.

The severed bricks are received on a table,

straightness and symmetry of the column are not marred by friction against the rollers. The clamp X is of great utility to hold the columns of clayagainst lateral movement when the bricks are severed. Without this the clay is liable to be pressed over sidewise, and thus will not be cut straight across.

My construction of thumb-keys for tightening the wires and jam-nuts or clamps for locking them is greatly superior to the common tightening-screws, which requirethe use of a wrench. By my 'device I am enabled to tighten the wires at any time when the machine is running.

The set-screws O, acting on the centers of the dies N, not only enable the operator to make the surfaces of the column concave, but are useful for the purpose of preventing the center part of the column from running out too fast.

The machine is well adapted for manufacturin g tiles, either open or tubular, a suitable core-die being employed to form the cavity duced in its crude state as taken from the bank, sand being added, if desired.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. The removable girts A bolts a journalcaps 00, and casing-cap G, constructed and applied, substantially as described, to facilitate the removal of the shaft and master-wheel.

2. The two-part back-plate B, in combination with the shaft F and collar I, the latter fitting within a chamber in the said backplate, as explained.

3. The combination of the frame S, supported adjustably by means of brackets Q, with rollers to carry the columns of clay, and dies N, removable and changeable, to produce bricks or tiles of clifiere'nt sizes or sections, as explained.

4. The combination of the supporting-frame 8, having rollers s s, and the longitudinallysliding roller-frame T, as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination of the nose-piece M,

dual dies NN, and the roller-frame T, pro-- rying-frame T, the transverse cuttingframe' U, and the clamp X, for holding the bricks 'while being cut, as explained.

7. The combination, in the cutting-frame U, of thevertical wires W, horizontal keys V, and jam-nuts V, as and for the purposes set forth.

8. The combination of the elastic formingdies N, and the set-screws O 0, bearing on the upper and under sides of said dies to compress and contract their central parts, as explained.

9. The combination of the tapering horizontal casingB O, longitudinally-grooved shaft F, oblique knives G G, heads H, legs 71., and screws h, nose-piece M, and double deliveryr dies N N, all constructed and arranged to operate as and for the purposes set forth.

. PHILIP H. KELLS.

Witnesses:

WILLARD STEARNS', JOHN M. MUELLER.- 

